Ben Kennedy and the Local Motors Team Finish 24th at Phoenix

Ben Kennedy and the No. 11 Local Motors team traveled west for the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kennedy participated in a desert double, competing in both the NASCAR K&N Series West race on Thursday night, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event under the lights on Friday. Unfortunately, a blown right-front tire ended the night early in the Casino Arizona 100. The Daytona Beach, Florida native returned to the one-mile race track the following morning and advanced to the final round of knockout qualifying, and as the sun disappeared from the Arizona sky, he took the green flag in the 12th position. As the track temperature dropped, the handling on the black and white machine began to tighten. During the lap-38 caution period, crew chief Scott Zipadelli called Kennedy to pit road for four Goodyear tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. While running 19th on the lap-44 restart, the field dove into Turn 1 and two competitors in front of the No. 11 Toyota Tundra made contact with each other, collecting Kennedy in the melee. He drove to the garage area where the Local Motors team quickly went to work to repair the extensive damage. He returned to competition on lap 70, 24 laps down to the leader and in 26th. Despite the damage, the truck was still fast as he turned lap times comparable to those running in the top five. He gained positions in the closing laps due to attrition, and took the checkered flag in 24th.

 

 

“Unfortunately we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. After the accident, I dove low anticipating that the track would be clear of the wreck, but instead [the No. 5] was still there. Rico (Abreu) ran into it and I had nowhere to go either. Our Local Motors Tundra was really fast though, both before and after the accident. Being so close to their Chandler, Arizona headquarters and having many Local Motors folks with us, I was really hoping to get them a better result. I can’t thank them enough for all of their support this year.”

RHR PR